Former leading New Zealand publisher and bookseller, and widely experienced judge of both the Commonwealth Writers Prize and the Montana New Zealand Book Awards, talks about what he is currently reading, what impresses him and what doesn't, along with chat about the international English language book scene, and links to sites of interest to booklovers.

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Pippa Middleton book number one in Kensington and Chelsea as friends rally round

Finally Pippa Middleton has something to Celebrate, as friends and family
rally round to boost her party-planning book to number one at the upmarket
stores of Kensington and Chelsea.

Pippa Middleton at the launch
party of her party-planning book, Celebrate, at Daunt Books in
LondonPhoto: Lewis
Whyld/PA

Pippa Middleton's party-planning book Celebrate is said to be flying off the
bookshelves of upmarket book shops, including Foyles, Hatchards and Daunt stores
in exclusive areas of London.

Shops in Reading, close to her family home in Bucklebury, Berks, have
recorded particularly good sales as friends and neighbours flock to show their
support.

The book, which appears to appeal to a very particular set of hosts, has been
the number one bestseller in Foyles and Hatchards bookshops in London, where
hundreds of signed copies have already been snapped up.

The well-heeled residents of West London have rushed to buy copies, with
Waterstones shops in Kings Road, Chelsea, and South Kensington reporting it as a
top seller following the high-profile launch.

The financiers and executives of Canary Wharf also appear to yearn after
hosting tips from Miss Middleton, with publishers Penguin claiming it has sold
well in the Jubilee Place branch of Waterstones.

The book, while has received publicity all around the world due to its famous
author, is also popular with tourists, reflected in sales at the Trafalgar
Square store and Selfridges.

The relative success of Celebrate at the select group of book stores
contrasts with less impressive sales in the rest of the country, with the book
languishing at just 273 on the bestseller chart on Amazon. Customers have criticised it for its simple approach, with Christmas tips
including words of wisdom such as: "Turkeys are perfect for feeding larger
gathering". A chapter on entertaining children advises: "For parties, wrap a small gift.
Sit everyone in a circle and ask them to pass the parcel." Other tips include:
"Store cupboards, drawers or boxes should be packed full of useful odds and
ends." The marked difference in book sales has been explained both by the
willingness of Miss Middleton to sign copies in select stores, and the diligent
support of her friends and family. Karin Scherer, from Hatchards, said: "It's been our bestseller for the last
three weeks running. "The reports are that it's not selling so well in other shops, but we've been
very fortunate. "She [Pippa] has been in twice now to sign books and it appeals very well to
our customers. They have flown off the shelves. "I think a lot of our customers know her personally and of course want to
support her. We're delighted that it's doing so well." Full article at The Telegraph